Pauline Borghese Bonaparte, represented as Venus Victrix

Pauline was Napoleon’s sister and the wife of Camillo Borghese, a Roman prince. This is one of Canova’s most famous works. The beautiful and refined princess posed personally lying on a triclinium holding the apple of victory (just like the Venus goddess obtained the apple from Paris and defeated Juno and Minerva in the beauty competition). The body rests on soft pillows and has a languid and voluptuous attitude.